Innovations that save lives: Munich Re and Fraunhofer grant awards for ideas for treatment of Covid-19
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Media Release Munich
30. July 2020
Innovations that save lives: Munich Re and
Fraunhofer grant awards for ideas for
treatment of Covid-19
Ideas competition to support development of equipment for the local treatment
of Covid-19 patients in regions particularly severely affected
Awards and implementation budget totalling €1m
Blueprints and training app provided free of charge to partners in countries most
in need
„The coronavirus has reached every country in the world, but
medical assistance for patients is far from being available
everywhere. Munich Re would like to make its competence and
resources available to promote new solutions for the treatment of
patients. Innovation is the motor of society and the economy − and
initiatives like the Give a Breath Challenge drive it ahead. Those
who took part have demonstrated that with creativity,
commitment and tenacity, possibilities for helping save people’s
lives can be created quickly. I would like to say a big thank you to
them!”
Torsten Jeworrek, Member of the Board of Management
Medical technology for rapid local production
Against the background of the Covid-19 pandemic, Munich Re and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
launched the Give a Breath Challenge in March of this year. They aim to promote innovative
ideas that can help people who have contracted the new coronavirus, contributing their own
expertise and networks, and funding totalling €1m.
The challenge was split into three categories. The first category was for designs for non-invasive
lung ventilators and oxygen concentrators, the second for the development of non-invasive
respirator masks, and the third for the provision of information on the use of the equipment
developed and basic knowledge on Covid-19 for additional support staff needed. With these
three components, a complete respirator system can be set up. It has to be possible to produce
the equipment anywhere in the world using 3D printing or other fast manufacturing processes.Media Release Munich, 30 July 2020 Page 2/5
The primary aim is to create the technological basis for the rapid local supply of ventilators to
cope with imminent shortages in the local emergency treatment of Covid-19 patients and
mitigate the impact of the pandemic for people affected worldwide.
„Events like the current Covid-19 pandemic challenge us to search
for solutions together and implement them quickly and efficiently. I
am therefore particularly pleased with the good partnership and
cooperation with Munich Re and all others involved, whose
commitment and ideas within the framework of the Give a Breath
Challenge have made it possible to take a major step forward in
overcoming the medical crisis.”
Prof. Ralf B. Wehrspohn, Director for Technology Marketing and Business Models at the Fraunhofer-
Gesellschaft
The winners’ equipment: versatile, inexpensive, multi-purpose
Over 150 project designs were submitted worldwide. Seven teams were selected for the final in
April and received support for the manufacture of prototypes. In mid-July, the prototypes were
examined by experts at the ETH Zürich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich) and by
Professor Dr. Dieter Köhler, the former president of the German Society for Pneumology (DGP),
who applied internationally recognised testing methodologies. The jury determined the winners
on the basis of their findings.
Two winners shared the award in the category for non-invasive ventilators. The SmartCPAP
team developed a non-invasive ventilator that can be produced inexpensively anywhere and
used in a wide range of conditions. The machine has some special features that make it
particularly suitable for Covid-19 patients. For example, it assists patients’ spontaneous
inhalation and exhalation in a very flexible way, thereby providing support for as long as
possible without intubation so that intensive-care beds can be kept free for more serious cases.
The SmartCPAP can work with oxygen from various different sources and also has features that
save oxygen – an important aspect in a crisis in which oxygen is a rare commodity.
The Vivid Breath team also received an award in this category. Vivid Breath developed an
exceptionally inexpensive respirator system comprising an O2 concentrator and a ventilator. It
offers various possibilities for ventilation and other purposes in addition to its current use for
Covid-19 patients. The O2 concentrator can supply up to six patients with oxygen at the same
time. The materials and components required can be procured easily or manufactured locally
using a 3D printer.Media Release Munich, 30 July 2020 Page 3/5 The Soteria team was the winner in the respiratory mask category. A 3D printer is also all that is needed to produce a Soteria mask. Due to its innovative internal honeycomb structure, it can be adapted flexibly to different shapes and sizes of face, enabling it to be sealed very effectively. It can also be used for many different types of ventilator. Assembly instructions with illustrations and a video tutorial help ensure that it can be quickly introduced. The Virus Fighter’s Handbook was the winner in the training material category. A team from the Project Group for Automation in Medicine and Biotechnology (PAMB) at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing, Engineering and Automation (IPA) worked with experts from Festo SE & Co. KG and doctors from a number of clinics to develop the design of a digital manual based on an existing app. Registered users receive information via the app on the use and maintenance of the newly developed equipment, with specific information provided on treating Covid-19 patients. Equipment to be piloted in South Africa The digital blueprints for the ventilators and masks, including information on their manufacture, assembly and use, are to be made available to governments and partners throughout the world to enable them to be produced and used locally. The digital handbook for the treatment of Covid-19 patients will also be globally accessible via an app. This approach will enable severely affected regions to receive support more quickly and independently of international supply chains. A plan for working with Stellenbosch University in South Africa to pilot the equipment designed has already been developed. Discussions on piloting are currently taking place with the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Stellenbosch University, the Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town, the Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing in Bloemfontein and the Fraunhofer Innovation Platform (FIP) at Stellenbosch University. Over the next few weeks, the necessary clinical studies and functional tests are to be carried out to enable the equipment to be approved by the South African authorities. Support group from industry and science Munich Re and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft would like to thank not only those taking part in the Challenge, but also the experts from industry and science who contributed their expertise on the jury and in various consultations, and agreed to further assistance being provided via the knowledge and networks at their companies. In addition to Munich Re board members Dr. Torsten Jeworrek and Dr. Thomas Blunck, and Fraunhofer directors Professor Ralf B. Wehrspohn and Professor Alexander Kurz, the jury included the following experts: • Prof. Oscar-W. Reif, Chief Technology Officer Corporate Research, Sartorius Stedim
Media Release Munich, 30 July 2020 Page 4/5
Biotech GmbH
• Peter Schardt, Chief Technology Officer, Siemens Healthineers
• Prof. Johann Weidringer, Chairman of the DIN Advisory Boards NARK and NAMed
• Dr. Dr. Karsten Hiltawsky, Head of Technology and IP, Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA
• Dirk Hilgenberg, Senior Vice President Production Systems, BMW Group
• Dr. Marco Nock, Director Innovation Management, EOS GmbHMedia Release Munich, 30 July 2020 Page 5/5 Münchener Rückversicherungs-Gesellschaft Aktiengesellschaft in München Group Media Relations Koeniginstrasse 107, 80802 Munich, Germany www.munichre.com LinkedIn: https://de.linkedin.com/company/munich-re Twitter: @MunichRe For Media inquiries please contact Strategic Communications & PR Group Media Relations Group Media Relations Florian Amberg Stefan Straub Irmgard Joas Tel.: +49 89 3891 2299 Tel.: +49 89 3891 9896 Tel.: +49 89 3891 6188 Mobile: +49 170 712 97 84 Mobile: +49 151 64 93 30 48 Mobile: +49 151 52 81 70 24 flamberg@munichre.com sstraub@munichre.com ijoas@munichre.com Media Relations Asia-Pacific Media Relations North America London Insurance Market Faith Thoms Jodi Dorman Lillian Ng Tel.: +65 63180762 Tel.: +1 609 243 4533 Tel.: +44 207 8863952 Mobile: +65 83390125 Mobile: +1 908 391 2427 Mobile: +44 7809 495299 fthoms@munichre.com jdorman@munichreamerica.com lillianng@munichre.com Munich Re Munich Re is one of the world’s leading providers of reinsurance, primary insurance and insurance-related risk solutions. The group consists of the reinsurance and ERGO business segments, as well as the asset management company MEAG. Munich Re is globally active and operates in all lines of the insurance business. Since it was founded in 1880, Munich Re has been known for its unrivalled risk-related expertise and its sound financial position. It offers customers financial protection when faced with exceptional levels of damage – from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake through to the 2019 Pacific typhoon season. Munich Re possesses outstanding innovative strength, which enables it to also provide coverage for extraordinary risks such as rocket launches, renewable energies, cyberattacks, or pandemics. The company is playing a key role in driving forward the digital transformation of the insurance industry, and in doing so has further expanded its ability to assess risks and the range of services that it offers. Its tailor-made solutions and close proximity to its customers make Munich Re one of the world’s most sought-after risk partners for businesses, institutions, and private individuals. Disclaimer This media release contains forward-looking statements that are based on current assumptions and forecasts of the management of Munich Re. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the forward-looking statements given here and the actual development, in particular the results, financial situation and performance of our Company. The Company assumes no liability to update these forward-looking statements or to make them conform to future events or developments.
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